DescriptionAdolescent medicine focuses on girls ages 9-11 and boys ages 11-14. Specialists in this field are physicians trained in pediatrics, internal medicine or family medicine who have adolescent medicine as a subspecialty. Adolescent medicine specialists deal with menstrual disorders, birth control, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, acne, eating disorders, mental illnesses (including depression) and delayed or precocious puberty. Often the approach is holistic, in that the specialist obtains pertinent information about the patient’s home life and activities.

Dr. bascara was educated at the following institutions:

Medical School Attended:saint louis university school of medicine

Year of Graduation:
1994

Dr. bascara received medical licensing as follows:

Medical License:
Recieved in 2000

State Medical License:
Issued in the state of New Jersey

Dr. bascara accepts insurance from these companies:

Not available

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See what state and federal disciplinary actions (if any) have been reported against this doctor in the past five years.>

Disciplinary Actions: Not Available

Disciplinary actions are actions taken to punish or restrict physicians who have demonstrated professional misconduct. They are intended to correct the doctor's misconduct. Physicians with disciplinary actions may continue to practice, depending on the board's decision. Physicians who have had a disciplinary action in one state will often move to another state where he/she may have a clean record in that new state. Lifescript's Doctor Finder compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, you'll know if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.

Adolescent medicine aims to address medical and psychosocial questions and conditions affecting adolescents at the time they enter puberty – for girls typically ages 9-11 and boys ages 11-14 – until about the time they are 21.

Practitioners with this specialty are trained in pediatric medicine, family medicine or internal medicine and choose to focus on adolescent medicine as a subspecialty. They complete an adolescent fellowship – two years of additional study for family practitioners and internists, and three years’ additional study for pediatricians.

Conditions a practitioner treats range from acne to mental illness, pregnancy or precocious puberty (puberty that occurs unusually early on), and more.

When do I seek out a practitioner specializing in adolescent medicine, and what should I expect?

Adolescence can be a tumultuous time. It’s a stage of development filled with concerns that are best addressed with the help and support of a medical professional who can help guide teens as they begin to gradually monitor their own health care needs and make the transition from childhood to young adults.

Since their needs are more diverse, adolescents benefit from receiving more than just the typical check-up by a pediatric specialist. They may have issues related to their developing bodies, self-image, sexuality, mental health, drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviors. Challenges with family, peers, school, illicit substances, and more often become part of their health care needs.

Ask your health care providers if they can recommend a physician not only trained in pediatric medicine, but also in adolescent medicine. Their special training facilitates discussions on issues with adolescent patients that other physicians may not address – or even think to address. Among the wide variety of topics an adolescent medicine physician might monitor and discuss are smoking, eating and weight, birth control, a menstrual disorder, steroid abuse, school behavior, social pressures, alcohol use, drug use, nutrition, depression and physical activity. A specialist will take the opportunity to communicate with the teen and try to uncover any problems related to these challenges that adolescents face.

Home: How things are at home – who lives there, and if occupants get along

Education: Patient’s school, grades and attendance

Activities: After-school activities, such as a job or sports, and how the patient spends time with friends

Drugs: Whether patient (or friends) smoke, drink, use drugs or have tried any of the above; also whether family members have trouble with any of the above

Sex: Boyfriend/girlfriend status; length of relationship and level of intimacy

Suicide/Depression: Moods, levels of depression and risk of suicide

Safety: Safety at home, school and in the neighborhood

What symptoms and conditions are typically treated by a specialist in adolescent medicine?

Conditions addressed by adolescent medicine specialists include acne, birth control, delayed or precocious puberty, precocious sexual development, eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, menstrual disorders, mental illnesses (including depression), pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and substance abuse. The approach is often holistic, with the specialist collecting information about the patient’s activities and home life as they address the problem.